Development of the venue was a result of work by Cellar Door Productions, a prominent concert promoter in the area at the time. Two separate controversies led to the opening of the venue. The community had voiced complaints regarding the Grateful Dead shows at nearby RFK Stadium, a circumstance similar to the creation of Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California 9 years prior. Meanwhile, the Walt Disney corporation was in the planning stages of its proposed Disney's America theme park in the area. Locals were angered at the proposed theme park. As a result, authorities granted permits for the pavilion instead. The location was decided due to proximity to the interstate as well as the capacity of the proposed facility to handle large crowds over multiple days. The amphitheater opened in June 1995, with a show including KC and the Sunshine Band and The Village People. The Grateful Dead were scheduled to perform three shows at the venue in the fall of 1995 but the tour was cancelled due to the death of band member Jerry Garcia.[2]

In July 24, 2004, the American hard rock band Kiss recorded their concert here for the live album Rock the Nation Live! (DVD).

On January 8, 2010, the name of the venue was changed from “Nissan Pavilion” to “Jiffy Lube Live” as a result of a business agreement between Live Nation and Jiffy Lube Washington Area Co-op Inc.[5]

In February 2011 the venue posted to its website that it would strictly enforce its existing no-tailgating rule for its parking lots before and after concerts in conjunction with the Prince William County Police Department. Organizers cited safety concerns as reasons for the ban, though they planned to continue to sell alcohol inside the venue.[6] In January 2012 the venue posted that tailgating would be returning with a set of rules posted on their website.[7]